What We Do: Physical Health
Photo by Kaycie Timm
Western Sports Foundation (WSF) believes that every rodeo athlete deserves to feel their best both in and out of the arena.
That’s why WSF collaborates with leading physical therapists, injury specialists, and dietitians to provide critical physical health services at little to no cost to the athletes. By focusing on injury prevention, mobility, and sports nutrition, WSF empowers athletes to maintain peak performance and recover effectively.
These services help athletes prevent injuries, optimize recovery, and improve overall health by supporting both immediate and long-term wellness, ensuring athletes feel their best throughout their careers and into retirement.
Read on to learn more about the physical health services WSF provides to Western athletes.
Injury Prevention
The best kind of injury is the one that never happens! Our injury prevention specialist offers several services to help our athletes train for their sport decrease the chance of getting hurt in the arena.
Orthopedic Manual Therapy improves mobility and reduces pain by mobilizing soft tissue, nerves, and joints using various techniques. Participating in a Movement and Injury Assessment allows our specialist to evaluate mobility and identify any imbalances or injuries. This involves range of motion and resistive testing to determine the appropriate treatment. Corrective Exercise Programming offers customized rehabilitation programs based on the results of a massage session and/or movement and injury assessment.
Sports Nutrition
Diet directly affects the body’s ability to train, compete, and heal. Getting nutritional guidance from our certified dietitian allows athletes to develop a customized meal plan to fit their individual needs and meet their goals in the gym and the arena.
Good nutrition is valuable for every athlete, from a high school rodeo athlete to a retired pro, and finding the right plan can be challenging in today’s world of fad diets and conflicting advice. By working one-on-one with a nutritionist, athletes gain the ability to replace unhealthy habits with nutritional choices that fuel their bodies for success.
Meet the Team
WSF trusts only the best with our athletes’ care. Get to know each of our Physical Health providers below.
April Dirteater, RDN, NUTRITION COACH
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, April completed more than 1,200 hours through a Dietetic Internship program, gaining experience in hospitals, sports settings, outpatient, weight loss clinics, pediatrics, and private practice dietetics. With a passion for helping others reach their health and fitness goals, April launched ADD Nutrition. Coaching and providing a realistic approach to nutrition has delivered transformed lives for April's clients.
Natasha McCann,
OWNER, MCCANN ATHLETIC THERAPY
Natasha McCann is the Owner of McCann Athletic Therapy and a Coach with Champion Living Fitness. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition in Sports Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, and holds a Dual Board Certification in Clinical Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Manual Therapy, making her an industry leader for preventative and rehabilitative body work for Western sports athletes.